Highlands' Spencer about up to speed

Pitcher Bailey Spencer has given the Highlands softball team a lift since her return from a leg injury that sidelined her for two weeks.

The sophomore was in the pitching circle Friday at Veteran's Memorial Park in Newport for the second time since rejoining her teammates. It was a timely start. In a critical 36th District showdown with a 4-2 victory over arch rival Newport Central Catholic, Spencer threw a four-hitter and nailed down the win.

"I'm not even all the way back yet because it's still biting me," Spencer said of the partial tear in her left quadriceps. "But I'm not batting, so I don't have to run, and that helps the healing. All I have to do right now is pitch."

Highlands, 12-11 and ranked sixth in the Enquirer Northern Kentucky coaches' poll, is thankful for that, especially after beating No. 5 NewCath (14-7) with Spencer at less than full strength.

The right-hander didn't miss many bats, striking out two. But she benefited from error-free defense and received a go-ahead hit from Brennah Dutcher, whose run-scoring single to right-center field scored Ashley Grosser in the top of the seventh, making it 3-2.

Highlands picked up an insurance run and set the final later in the inning when Whitney Quillen beat out a ground ball to shortstop, allowing a runner in from third.

The score was tied 1-all after the first and 2-all after five. NewCath tied the score both times after surrendering the lead, but wound up losing for the fourth time in six games. Spencer retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh, getting both of her strikeouts. Coach Rob Coffey's squad has won four games in a row, putting an end to a seven-game losing streak that coincided with Spencer's absence.

More importantly, the Bluebirds improved to 2-0 while taking control of the district race. NewCath fell to 2-1. Highlands beat NewCath, 6-0 the first meeting in March, but it wasn't a district seeding game.

The Bluebirds have two district games remaining. They can clinch the regular-season title and No. 1 seed in the 36th District tournament with a win against Dayton on Tuesday or a win against Newport on Wednesday. ⬛